Former India chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth did not mince words as he lambasted the team management for the inclusion of Harshit Rana in the ODI squad for the Australia tour on Saturday.
Opening up on the multiple squad reshuffles in the ODI set-up and questioning the decision to omit Sanju Samson from the back-up wicket-keeper’s spot, Srikkanth lambasted the selectors for creating insecurity among players. Srikkanth then turned his focus on Harshit Rana who made his debut across formats within four months since November 2024. A member of the recent Asia Cup-winning squad, Rana was picked up as one of the four specialist pacers in the ODI squad for the three-match series in Australia.
“By making such selections constantly, they are confusing the players themselves. Even we aren’t sure everyday what the selection will be. Suddenly Yashasvi Jaiswal is there and then next minute he won’t be there. There is only one permanent member – Harshit Rana. Nobody knows why he is there in the team. By chopping and changing all the time, they’ll dent the confidence of the players
“You don’t pick some players even if they do well and take others even if they don’t. Best is to be like Harshit Rana and be a constant yes-man to Gambhir to be selected. You should start building towards the 2027 World Cup. But I feel they’ve not. If you pick Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy among the probabilities, then you can wave goodbye to the trophy,” an unfiltered Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Rana made his Test debut during India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia last year, picking up four wickets in two matches. He later made his ODI debut against England before featuring in the ODI Champions Trophy squad in the United Arab Emirates.
Rana had a forgettable Asia Cup, conceding 79 runs for two wickets in as many games. Srikkanth had also slammed the Delhi pacer after he ended up leaking 54 runs for a solitary wicket against Sri Lanka in the Super 4s.
“Harshit Rana does too many filmy gimmicks. All these filmy reactions aren’t of any use, you’ve to actually bowl well. He does all these filmy reactions in the IPL as well. This is not a good attitude, it’s just showboating. He drives after the ball is already last him. Why dive after the goal has already been scored? Aggression is different but showboating so much at a young age is why he got punished today,” the former India captain had said.
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